MONROE - The Cheesemaker tennis team lost a nail-biter to Madison Edgewood, Thursday, 4-3, just two days after losing to Fort Atkinson, another Badger Conference leader.
"They all played tough. It's fun to see and fun to watch," Monroe head coach Stephanie Miller said. "It's been the toughest match we've had to play. Having Fort (Atkinson) and Edgewood together makes it two tough teams in a row. But you have to play tough teams to get better."
The entire meet came down to the No. 1 doubles. With all of the other matches finished and the overall meet tied at 3-3, Monroe's Ashley Hermanson and Kelsey Erickson saw the victory slipping away.
"If you're going to depend on somebody to get that big win, you're going to depend on your top players," Miller said.
After winning the first set, 6-2, the Cheesemakers' top twosome dropped a mid-set lead in the second set and lost 5-7. In the final set, with all eyes on the lower west court at Rec Park, Edgewood's Chloe Starz and Rachel Wabers finished off Monroe, 6-3. It was the duo's first loss this season.
"It was anybody's match. Everything was so close," Miller said.
Junior Kirstin McArdle lost the No. 1 singles match, 7-5, 6-4, to Sydney Kirsh and Kiera Berger lost No. 3 singles to Lauren Keller, 6-4, 6-3. The No. 3 doubles team of Taylor Weis and McKenzie Bruce fell 6-2, 7-6(5).
Monroe's two big wins in singles play came from its two youngest players: Sophomores Ellie Shuda and Lily Priewe. Shuda won the No. 2 singles match with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Edgewood's Sara Murphy.
"(Shuda) played an hour and a half first set. For her to stick through that and come out with a win was huge. I didn't know how well she would react or if she would be too tired. But she stepped it up and played solid," Miller said.
Priewe coasted through the first set, 6-1, but found her opponent, Marieke Van Rybroeke push hard in the second set. Priewe finished the second set with a 6-4 win, which Miller called a big career win.
"For a first-year varsity player to come up with a key win like that was really good," Miller.
Monroe's No. 2 doubles tandem of Gwen Sutter and Emily Grossen defeated Caroline Christiansen and Kylee Molitor, 6-4, 6-4.
"They came out a little slow and were down 3-0 in the first set. Then they went out and got a great win," Miller said.
Monroe travels to Stoughton, Monday for its last dual meet. On Thursday and Friday, Sept. 24-25, the Cheesemakers will play in the Badger Conference tournament at Nielsen Stadium in Madison.
"It's good to have these tough matches back-to-back because it will prepare us for conference next week," Miller said.
"They all played tough. It's fun to see and fun to watch," Monroe head coach Stephanie Miller said. "It's been the toughest match we've had to play. Having Fort (Atkinson) and Edgewood together makes it two tough teams in a row. But you have to play tough teams to get better."
The entire meet came down to the No. 1 doubles. With all of the other matches finished and the overall meet tied at 3-3, Monroe's Ashley Hermanson and Kelsey Erickson saw the victory slipping away.
"If you're going to depend on somebody to get that big win, you're going to depend on your top players," Miller said.
After winning the first set, 6-2, the Cheesemakers' top twosome dropped a mid-set lead in the second set and lost 5-7. In the final set, with all eyes on the lower west court at Rec Park, Edgewood's Chloe Starz and Rachel Wabers finished off Monroe, 6-3. It was the duo's first loss this season.
"It was anybody's match. Everything was so close," Miller said.
Junior Kirstin McArdle lost the No. 1 singles match, 7-5, 6-4, to Sydney Kirsh and Kiera Berger lost No. 3 singles to Lauren Keller, 6-4, 6-3. The No. 3 doubles team of Taylor Weis and McKenzie Bruce fell 6-2, 7-6(5).
Monroe's two big wins in singles play came from its two youngest players: Sophomores Ellie Shuda and Lily Priewe. Shuda won the No. 2 singles match with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Edgewood's Sara Murphy.
"(Shuda) played an hour and a half first set. For her to stick through that and come out with a win was huge. I didn't know how well she would react or if she would be too tired. But she stepped it up and played solid," Miller said.
Priewe coasted through the first set, 6-1, but found her opponent, Marieke Van Rybroeke push hard in the second set. Priewe finished the second set with a 6-4 win, which Miller called a big career win.
"For a first-year varsity player to come up with a key win like that was really good," Miller.
Monroe's No. 2 doubles tandem of Gwen Sutter and Emily Grossen defeated Caroline Christiansen and Kylee Molitor, 6-4, 6-4.
"They came out a little slow and were down 3-0 in the first set. Then they went out and got a great win," Miller said.
Monroe travels to Stoughton, Monday for its last dual meet. On Thursday and Friday, Sept. 24-25, the Cheesemakers will play in the Badger Conference tournament at Nielsen Stadium in Madison.
"It's good to have these tough matches back-to-back because it will prepare us for conference next week," Miller said.
